For the first time in more than one decade the façade of the Duomo uncovered – a very rare and unique site of this marble splendour with the golden Madonina on top – the symbol of Milan. And the Christmas symbol of Milan is the Christmas tree coming all the way from the Trentino and is decorated with a million lamps. To the right is the entrance to the Galleria

The Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II and in its centre for Christmas a fantastic blue illumination with the emblem of Milan in its centre.

Natasha and Leonardo da Vinci (left), and Milan after the successful introduction of the Ecopass for vehicles (which reduced accidents in Milan by 20% in the first year) has, for Christmas, introduced the free rent-a-bike throughout Milan city centre. The advert says: “You can park (the bike) on the sidewalk with no-one smashing your car window”

For Christmas 2008 the city has decorated, also the Castello Sforzesco, Milan’s most famous and much beloved monument built in the 14th century, with millions of lights which turn on and off with the sound of the Christmas music

Along the walking street to the Castello Sforzesco large satellite photos are on display – some of the most incredible images from the universe; like:

…the neverending deforestation of the Amazoian primary rainforest…

…photo of a valley on Mars which shows that this planet had water (or still has?)…

Satellite photo of Earth by night – one can see where the highest concentration of people like in India, Europe, USA, ect. And below a Christmas stroll through the world’s most famous Christmas shopping street Monte Napoleone